Winter Season – Water Element

Winter Season – Water Element

It is right about now that people begin to get a little tired of winter. The holiday season is well and truly over and now we are waiting for those first signs of spring to start appearing.

In the cycle of the seasons winter is the time of retraction. It is a time to withdraw into oneself, keep warm and harbor your energy. In Chinese 5 Element theory winter is associated with the Water element. It is a time to adapt to the situations we are confronted with by cultivating the willpower. Unbalanced Water element can intensify feelings of fear and depression. Water corresponds to the kidneys within the body. The kidneys are responsible for gathering, storing and dispensing water throughout the body. The kidneys are where the pre-birth qi is stored. In order to keep this qi vital and strong we must take care of our kidneys during the winter. Daily gentle circular massage of the kidney area (lower back on either side of the spine) helps keeps them strong. Excessive indulgence in alcohol, sex, and unhealthy food can drain qi. In winter this behavior can be especially damaging.

Think of the kidneys as the ocean of the human body. Within the body all the essences and fluids of the body's various pathways pour into the kidney. While oceans may appear vast and inexhaustible, their seemingly unlimited supply can be drained. After the kidney has assembled the essential fluids of the body's vessels it disperses them throughout the body lubricating the five organ network and nourishing all of the body's pathways. Without a proper flow this process doesn't work effectively.

Winter is a time of hibernation, stockpiling energy and conserving vital qi. Embracing this concept allows us to prepare for the springtime as the cycle continues.

Until next time....wishing you much peace,
Zin the Wandering Sage

return of the sage

The wandering sage has finally returned from his travels.

It is always good to visit distant places. It gives you a whole new perspective on things. People are basically the same wherever you go. They all have hopes and dreams as well as worries and fears. The problems arise when the worries and fears outweigh the hopes and dreams.

It really feels like all of this financial pandemic crisis stuff causes a lot more stress and tension in people than is necessary. I don’t really get the sense that the mainstream media is helping at all. They seem to revel in sensationalizing all of it which only makes things worse. And while we may supposedly be in a recovery now all of the problems with population, limited resources, peak oil, climate change and economic meltdown are still escalating.

Fortunately, with the arrival of spring (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) there is the feeling of rebirth and a new wellspring of energy that is bubbling up. We need to tap into this energy and make use f it. Too often it can feel like our problems are taking over our life. When we can feel a real connection to the Earth and the energy of the natural world those problems shrink down to a more manageable size.

So, as with many of these posts, I’ll leave you with these simple words…

Remember to Breathe

Mind-Body Connection

The more we train our body the stronger and healthier it becomes. In the same manner, the more we train our mind the calmer and clearer it becomes. This practice is like sharpening the blade of a sword. The healthier the body and the calmer the mind the better we are able to focus more completely on the task at hand.

Training the body is a physical challenge. Whether it is zen yoga, tai chi, marital arts, tennis, golf swimming or whatever...it is about moving the body and flowing with energy. However training the mind is a much greater challenge. There are many distractions. The practice of meditation needs to be an integral part of life even when we feel that it is not doing anything for us. The subtle changes that occur over time through the regular study of meditation are invaluable. While we may understand the concept of meditation intellectually, putting aside time to practice is often difficult. Nevertheless, the clarity of thought that meditation provides is something vital to our training that we should not be without. It brings us to a moment of zen, being fully alive in the present moment.

When we exist fully in the present moment we embody our true self. Like moving in stereo, the body and mind become a single flowing entity. By following the same rhythm, each compliments the other. We are able to react without thought or hesitation. Our reactions are perfectly appropriate depending on the situation, neither too strong nor too weak.

This is the true meaning of body and mind connection.

Start from Zero

A fit, healthy body and a calm, clear mind lay the fertile ground for our spiritual nature to grow and develop --zin

One of the biggest hurdles we face when making life changes in body fitness is starting from a negative.

The first step is to approve of the body you have right at this moment - NOT the body you want, NOT the body you are going to have in six months after you work out, NOT the body you had last year or ten years ago, but the body you have right NOW.

Oh no!...you say...OH YES!...that body with the belly that pops over the belt buckle or the thighs that rub together, or with the yellow stained teeth, or whatever you think is wrong with you.

Regardless of all the faults, real or imagined, it is the only body you have.
And here you are...alive.

If you have to live with it, you might as well come to terms with it instead of fighting it.

Acceptance of that fact is like opening a door to a new world.

Imagine a line of numbers

-10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Zero is the center point..the place to begin so you can go up into positive numbers.

Instead, if you begin with a negative number, you spend all of your time trying to get to zero, so you can begin.

Your body…right now…exactly as it is….is zero.
From zero...go up.

How strong, how fit, how healthy you are is how strong, fit and healthy you are.

Start from there.

Everyone can do some sort of breath and movement practice in order to start the process of getting the body feeling better.

http://www.artofzenyoga.com/

The Essence of Quality

The attitude we take towards any task or undertaking reflects on how we view our self. The completed task is the outward reflection of what is going on within. A task done with quality and completeness suggests a quality and completeness inside our being. A task half-finished or done sloppily reflects sloppiness within us. The actual importance of the task is irrelevant with regard to the quality and completeness with which we undertake it. Whether we are doing life-saving surgery, writing a book, washing a car, or tying our shoes, we need to focus all of our attention and concentration on that action. In effect, we want to enter into the essence of it.

Entering into the essence of something means becoming one with the action we are performing. In Japan there is a word shoshin which means “beginner’s mind.” As a beginner, the first time you do something you have to concentrate on it in order to do it correctly, but as you become adept at it you soon stop paying attention to the doing of it. The idea of shoshin is to retain the mindfulness of the beginner even as the task becomes routine. In this manner you are able to enter into the essence of what you are doing and that makes all the difference. Doing anything without entering into its essence is pointless and empty. However, the more fully you enter into something, keeping mindful of it, the more point or meaning it has and the more alive you feel by doing it.

Musicians, dancers, or artists who are able to enter into the essence of their art, become their art - they transcend the doing and are just being. By entering into the essence of your daily tasks you can begin to wake up to the great secret of life – living. The quality of living that results from entering into the essence of everyday life is profound. But only by actually being mindful of what we are doing can we experience it.

In Zen Yoga training we seek to cultivate this practice through simple breathing and movement exercises which help to circulate the energy through the meridians of the body. Just as with tai chi and qigong, Zen Yoga is a spiritual discipline that brings an awareness of the self.

wishing you much peace...

Aaron

I will have some photos of the Zen Warrior Training Retreat up soon...

Slow Down

Many of us living modern society live life at a frenetic pace. The measured lifestyle and close contact with nature that characterizes more traditional societies is being lost. People today gobble up experiences, swallow them whole, and then stuff more in. As these undigested experiences accumulate, existence becomes more superficial. Watching television has become a substitute for real experience and even that rarely holds our attention for long –we click to the next channel. Vicariously living through the stimulus overload of television has dulled the senses to the magic of real life. The rapid pace of technological advances creates a sense of urgency while the high-speed transfer of data through the internet and telephone systems brings an immediacy to everything. When we finally do go out and do something, we often feel driven by an urge to get through it as fast as possible. There is a compulsion for instant satisfaction, a pervasive “been there, done that” attitude. Completion has become the goal. Actually experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells has become secondary to the result. All of this leaves people with little time for themselves, or more exactly, for discovering the self.

Things such as fast food, newsbreaks, email and text messaging all contribute to this to a sense of urgency. We cannot escape it. We only slow down to pay attention when something we think extraordinary appears, and even then it rarely holds our attention for very long. Eventually we hurry on to something we think is more important. But when we get there we rush through that as well, since we feel compelled to get to the next experience and the next after that. Our attention span has been narrowed drastically, laying a deadly trap, because we begin to sacrifice the present to the future – which never comes. Unless we are able to fully experience the present, the future is merely an illusion. Without fully living in the present, we will never know just who we are. We will only continue to chase things into the future in the vain hope something will finally satisfy us.

This trap was set long ago by our parents and our schooling and our culture. The striving toward an undefined goal – success – always lies in the future and calls for planning. Thus, when we actually do reach some sort of success, it turns out not to be as satisfying as we thought it would be and we get caught up in planning for the next success. For vast numbers of people the future never arrives while, at the same time, they take little notice or enjoyment in what they have accomplished in the present. In the end, however, it is in the present, not the future, that life is deeply experienced and where one discovers one’s true self.

Of course there are things we all need to do to secure our future, but if we sacrifice the present for some obscure future success, chances are that when we get there we will still be no closer to what we are searching for. If we can slow the pace at which we live and enjoy what we are doing in the present, then no matter what the future brings we will be prepared to experience it fully. We need to bring a sense of peace to daily life by becoming aware of time, of the need to slow down.

By slowing the pace of life and quieting the noise of the world, we can let a little more peace and serenity into our lives.

poetry

Two wild dogs inside us dwell
Eternally at war
A good dog and another one
Rotten to the core
We ponder which might win the fight
And occupy the host
The answer simply has to be
The one you feed the most

---

Original poetry by Aaron Hoopes, inspired by an old Native American tale.

Zen Yoga Vermont Retreat

Breathe - Move - Relax

Meditate by a waterfall in the peaceful mountains of Vermont

May 30th - June 1st, 2008

PROGRAM:

Deep Journey - Shanti Yoga: Tuning into the rhythms of the body and stretching deeper and more fully. Opening the hips, shoulders and back.

Moving Meditation - Tai Chi: Introduction to the basics of Tai Chi movement. Flowing energy movement and mindful awareness.

Dynamic Energy - Zen Crane Qigong: Introduction to the basic Zen Crane breathing & moving forms. Raising energy levels in the body and circulation.

Touching Nature- Meditation: Exploration of various methods of meditation in a variety of special settings

Shamanic Drumming Circle & Traditional Releasing Ceremony: (with Michael Denmeade Shaman of Lakota & Yama Bushi Traditions)

Prepare to feel wonderful!

more information: www.artofzenyoga.com/retreat.htm

Zen Yoga OnFitness

Check out the new issue of OnFitness Magazine. (march/april)

Zen Yoga: Get Your Energy Flowing is on the cover!

I've got four pages with my article The Long Stretch and a whole series of great photos.

OnFitness is considered the #1 magazine for personal trainers. Available at Barnes & Noble, Borders and other bookstores.

http://www.onfitnessmag.com/current_issue.htm

---

Whole Health & Hoitsugan

It feels as if I haven't stopped since I got back from Australia and Japan.

We had a booth at the Whole Health Expo in Northampton, MA (http://wholehealthexpo.com/ )this past weekend and taught a couple of workshops. It was very well attended. I got the sense that people are really looking for something that will help them feel better. The problem is that we tend to look everywhere but inside ourselves for the answer. All the crystals, magnets, detoxifying foot baths and health drinks are wonderful, but without a body that is moving and breathing combined with a mind that is calm and undistracted, they are not really going to be of any real help other than to trick us into thinking we are fine...more on this later.

Need to switch gears this week. Thursday I'm off to San Francisco for the 3rd Hoitsugan Seminars. This is a series 47 karate seminars taught by some of the best martial artists in the world. I am honored to be a part of it and bring Zen Yoga to the program. I will be teaching 5 seminars over the weekend. Should be a great time!
more information is here: http://www.hoitsugan.com/hoitsuganseminars3.html

The new Zen Yoga Online Course starts this week and we are happy to have a good group of new instructors joining us. Always looking for people who want to explore things a little deeper.

in peace,
Aaron
http://www.artofzenyoga.com/

Gathering Energy

In the middle of the winter it is often the case that our energy reserves can get quite depleted. The ending of the holiday season can sometimes leave a vague feeling of emptiness, while 2008 brings with it some uncertainty in just what sort of changes we might be facing as we move forward.

Keeping our energy levels up is always a good idea, and now it is even more important. The simplest way to do this is to become more aware of our breathing habits. Just taking a deeper breath whenever we can remember brings more oxygen into the body. This oxygen becomes energy as is enters the blood stream. Deeper breathing gathers energy reserves in the body and helps us deal with difficulties when they arise.

Returning to the breath whenever we are dealing with the challenges of life allows us to center ourselves and focus our attention within.

in Peace,
Aaron Hoopes

I Asked for Strength

I asked for strength, I was given difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for wisdom, I was given problems to solve.

I asked for courage, I was given obstacles to overcome.

I asked for favors, I was given opportunities.

I asked for love, I was given people who need love.

I received nothing I thought I wanted and everything I needed.

Live each moment without fear.

Confront the difficulties, problems and obstacles before you and you will overcome them.

Recognize opportunities and you shall learn to learn from everything.

Love yourself, and others will love you.

And always…remember to breathe.

---Aaron Hoopes

The Zen Yoga tour continues...

It was great to meet everyone at the Zen Yoga workshop at the headquarters of the World Traditional Karate Organization (WTKO) in New York City. Chief Instructor Richard Amos has really put together a great space for training.

After the workshop we moved on to the East West Bookstore in Manhattan for a lecture and book signing. Thanks to all who attended.

Next up is Odyssey Books in South Hadley, MA on November 29th and then Barrington Books in Barrington, RI on December 1st.

All details are on the website - www.artofzenyoga.com

Breathing Energy

The human body's natural state is one of health. If you have the ability able to give your body what it requires to remains healthy…it remains healthy. At the most basic level, your body requires water, food, and oxygen. These three provide the energy the body needs to be alive. This energy is called chi in Chinese healing traditions. Chi is the prime moving force both within the human body and in the universe as a whole. Chi is in the essence of the water and food we consume. It is also the power that makes it possible for us to breathe. Chi is not simply "energy," it is what gives energy the power to be energy. Chi is the power behind movement and thought. It is everywhere. It is in the oxygen we breathe and the blood that flows through us.
The ancient Chinese believed chi flowed through the body along sacred channels called "meridians," just as blood flows through arteries and veins. Traditional Chinese medicine considers blockage of chi, or even the incorrect movement of chi through the body, as the cause of both mental and physical disease. People with strong chi have a healthy and youthful appearance, a strong immune system, and are full of energy, while people with weak chi appear frail and haggard, tire quickly, and fall ill often.
When we breathe we take in oxygen but we also take in chi energy. The more energy within the body, the better it feels. The smoother the energy flows around inside the body, the less difficulty the body encounters. If we can learn to breathe the way the body was designed to breathe then we are able to provide the body with all the chi it needs to be healthy. The better we are breathing, the better we feel. Deep breathing brings chi and oxygen into the body, increasing blood flow, and thus chi flow, within the body.
Breathing energy is a Zen Yoga technique, but it is not new. In Chinese it is known as Qigong (chi kung). In India it is called Pranayama. And while the techniques may differ, the process is the same…it is the practice of breathing with the whole body, of circulating energy within and trading old energy for new.
To breathe energy the breathing is done through the nose. The mouth is closed and the tongue is at the top palate. There are many other methods of breathing. However, with energy breathing we are concerned with retaining the energy and circulating it through the body. Breathing in through the nose takes the energy directly down to the dan tien (just below the navel). The energy flows down, around and up the spine to the crown of the head. By keeping the tongue connected to the roof of the mouth when you exhale the energy is circulated back down to the dan tien as the carbon dioxide is released. If you open your mouth to breathe out the connection is broken and the energy dissipates back to the universe. The next inhalation brings more energy in and you can gradually build up your reserves.
Energy breathing brings awareness to your breathing. When you are aware of your breathing your body processed the energy much more effectively. Most of the time our physical behavior is unconscious, we walk around all day, everyday rarely noticing how our body feels unless there is some obvious pain. Seldom do we consciously think of the body as feeling good. Feeling good shouldn't be just an absence of pain. It should be an invigorated, energetic state where you are comfortable and happy in your body.
Energy breathing is a way to reach that feeling. With practice, your breathing skills with become much better and you will be able to extend that feeling.

Want to learn more?
*new book - Zen Yoga: A Path to Enlightenment through Breathing, Movement and Meditation is now available - www.artofzenyoga.com

peace always…

Naturopathy

The art of naturopathy is thousands of years old. The ancient Chinese practiced it. Ayurvedic Medicine of India is based on it. There have always been people who understand that healing will occur naturally in the human body, if it is given what it truly needs, the proper diet, pure water, fresh air, sunlight, exercise and rest.

In naturopathy the emphasis is not on finding a disease and killing it, but rather on helping the body establish its own state of good health.

Of course we must recognize that allopathic medical care is, at times, necessary, we need to realize that many accepted allopathic treatments can be harmful.

Allopathic philosophy holds that disease is caused by external agents, chiefly by bacteria and viruses. According to this belief system, a cure will result when these offending agents are eliminated. Also, the allopathic belief also tends to look at the symptom and the disease as one and the same, so that when the symptom has been eliminated, it is presumed that the disease is cured. The Naturopath, however, sees the symptom as nothing more than a signal that something is wrong. In naturopathy, when a symptom alone is eliminated, it is most likely being suppressed. Unless the original cause has been eliminated, the symptom may return later in a chronic form.
Basic Naturopathic Principles:
Do no harm. Naturopaths do not use harmful substances, such as drugs and pharmaceuticals, and do not rely on dangerous procedures, such as surgery.
Recognize the healing power of nature. Naturopaths understand that the body has an innate capacity for self-healing. They are equipped to educate their clients in setting up a proper external and internal environment so that healing will take place.
Find and eliminate the cause of poor health. Naturopaths help their clients evaluate their lifestyles, identify the cause of their health problems, and take corrective action.
Teach Health. Naturopaths teach their clients how to achieve and maintain good health. This empowers their clients and enables them to participate in the process of staying well.
Honor the total person. A person is never simply a headache, or a back ache, or a sore throat. Unless there has been an injury, seldom does any problems occur in isolation. Naturopaths understand that people are physical, mental, and spiritual beings, and that one "dis-ease" affects all areas of life.